Supreme Court rejects appeal of New Jersey high school football coach

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from a New Jersey high school football coach who wants to bow his head and kneel during prayers led by his players.

In an order Monday, the justices ended Marcus Borden's fight against the East Brunswick, N.J., school district's policy that forbids him and other staff members from joining in student-led prayer. The high court declined to weigh in on whether Borden's desire to bow his head silently and "take a knee" with his football players violates the Constitution's prohibition on government endorsement of religion.

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Borden says such gestures are secular. The district says Borden, the East Brunswick coach since 1983, had a long history of leading prayers before he was ordered to stop.